Working for IN Kansas City sends our team all over the metro. So, each month, we’ll weigh in on our favorite local… something.
This month, we’re talking appetizers. Starters. Antipasti. Which pre-entrée bites keep us coming back?
We all know about beer flights, but what about cheese flights? For about a year now, I have had a serious obsession with the Cheese Clock from Vintage ’78 Wine Bar in downtown Overland Park. If you know me, you’ve probably heard me talk about this place. I’m stage-five-clinger obsessed!
The Cheese Clock is a sample of 12 artisanal cheeses with accompaniments. One of the best parts of ordering this cheesy goodness is, if you are lucky enough to have Megan Downes deliver it to your table, that she describes each cheese, its flavor, and its origins to you. It’s beyond impressive.
Their Boston-style lobster roll is also one of the best I’ve ever had. Order it! You won’t be disappointed.
My favorite appetizer in KC is the green salad from Story. I realize it is a very simple salad, but it is the perfect way to start a delicious meal. The mint in the salad gives it a freshness that screams summer!
As a tapas restaurant, one could argue that all the dishes at Extra Virgin are appetizers. Of the many choices, one of my favorites is the steamed mussels served with toasted bread; perfect for soaking up the buttery chowder-style white wine sauce seasoned with chermoula, garlic, and lemon. If I weren’t in a public setting, I’d drink it from the bowl. Instead, I just ask for more bread.
We always start with the Sardinian black rice at Farina. It’s unique and delicious!
The Waldo Rolls at Social send me to space. Deep-fried little sawed-off tortilla wraps with grilled chicken, pepper jack, black-bean corn salsa, and crucially, sriracha aioli dipping sauce. I didn’t pay attention to the details the first time I had them. I just knew they were one of the best appetizers I’d ever had.
In the land of Kansas City barbecue, it’s no surprise that Q39 has the “Best Wings on the Planet.” The name says it all—these wings are so good they could be an entrée. Packed with flavor and cooked to perfection—these are a must try whether you are doubling down on meat or skipping the brisket this time around.
Pizza Shoppe is a Woodson family favorite. The cracker crust on the pizza is so unique and makes this my favorite pizza place in KC.
Before devouring a sausage and black olive pizza, I start off with a Shoppe House Salad. The fixings of the salad are pretty typical: lettuce, mozzarella, bacon bits, and topped with two slices of pepperoni, but what makes this salad stand out from others is The “Pink Stuff” dressing that is only available at the Shoppe. This unique dressing has its own secret recipe and embodies a garlic-like flavor.
